According to the Freight Analysis Framework (FAF), the U.S. transportation system moved an average of 53 million tons of freight worth $36 billion per day in 2002 to serve 109 million households, 24.8 million business establishments, and almost 88,000 units of government (USDOC Census Bureau 2006). More than one-half of the tonnage moved within local areas, and less than 10 percent was an import from or export to another country. Trucks hauled close to 60 percent of the weight and two-thirds of the value of shipments. Goods transported by more than one mode accounted for only 1 percent of domestic tons, but represented 60 percent of the weight of exports and almost 70 percent of imports.
FAF provisional estimates for 2007 show an increase in tons moved by truck, rail, pipeline, intermodal, and air modes, with a slight decrease in tonnage moved by water. While the volume of freight moved by air and intermodal modes grew at faster rates between 2002 and 2007, the truck mode experienced an increase of more than ten percent in the same five years and carried more total tonnage than all other modes combined. These provisional estimates are consistent with annual growth rates in the FAF forecast for 2035.
The above report is part of Freight Story 2008 replaces the older version “The Freight Story: A National Perspective on Enhancing Freight Transportation” by the US Department of Transportation: Federal Highway Administration, Office of Operations Freight Management and Operations and was updated in 2008. Since then, the nation is still experiencing a shortage of carriers and drivers. As freight increases, you need a good freight broker that understands the supply and demand of freight and carriers to be able to cover your loads in an expedited matter at economical prices. Rapid Express Freight has been in business since 2004. We understand freight lanes, times of the month and year where supply is more than trucks available on the road and can guide you on how to best cover all your shipments.
